KUALA LUMPUR: Former MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu believes that the new wave of internal tussles in the party will only be temporary.
Speaking to reporters here today, Samy said MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam was trying to conduct his duties as the new party leader and felt that Dr Subramaniam was doing what was in his power.
"When I took over MIC, it was (also) like this. But I sat with all state and branch chairmen, went to their houses and make them (feel) important.
"He (Dr Subramaniam) is trying to work and do whatever he can. I don't think this (infighting) will last long, (only) three to four weeks," he said.
Asked whether members should just accede to the court rulings and the re-elections, Samy said this was merely a normal practise of democracy.
"In a democratic world, you can say anything, do anything, and lastly (say) 'it is my fundamental right'.
"(Peace in the party) will not happen immediately, you have to (let things) cool down. The more you cool down, the quicker peace comes to you," he added.
On Saturday, former MIC treasurer-general Datuk R. Ramanan had threatened to sue the party president, claiming that his dismissal from the party was "illegal".
He claimed that the decision to sack him, which was made by the party's central working committee (CWC), was invalid due to the CWC not meeting the required amount of members as stipulated in the MIC constitution.
On Dec 24, Dr Subramaniam announced the sacking of Ramanan, citing the Bukit Bintang division chief's continuous questions of how MIC was handling its disputes.